On May 22, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testified for the first time before the House Education and Workforce Committee. The hearing, entitled “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education” covered a range of issues, including for profit colleges, student loan programs, state plans under the Every Student Succeeds Act, apprenticeships, funding for the Office for Civil Rights, school discipline, and the reporting of suspected undocumented students to authorities. View the archived webcast here.
Tag Archives: Hearings
Education – House Committee to Hold Hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education”
On May 22, the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will hold a hearing on “Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education”. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will be the only witness. Visit the Committee web site for more information or to access live video on the day of the hearing.
House to Hold Hearing on Reauthorization of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
On Wednesday, July 15, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources will hold a hearing on “Welfare Reform Proposals,” specifically involving the reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Visit the Committee website for more information and to access live video the day of the hearing.
House Holds Hearing on Social Security Disability Insurance Work Incentives
Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means held a hearing on “Promoting Opportunity for Disability Insurance Beneficiaries.” Witnesses were Mike Zelley, President, The Disability Network, Flint, Michigan; James Smith, Budget and Policy Manager, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation, Vermont Agency of Human Services, Burlington, Vermont; Jill Houghton, Executive Director, US Business Leadership Network; John Kregel, Ed.D., Professor, Special Education and Disability Policy, Virginia Commonwealth University; and Paul N. Van de Water, Ph.D., Senior Fellow and Director of Policy Futures, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Visit the Committee web site to review testimony and archived video.
House Holds Hearing on Social Security Disability Earnings Reports
Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on the Social Security Administration’s management of earnings reports from disability beneficiaries trying to go back to work. Witnesses were David A. Weaver, Associate Commissioner, Office of Research, Demonstration and Employment Support, Social Security Administration, and Daniel Bertoni, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office. Visit the Committee web site to view testimony.
House to Hold Hearing on Social Security Disability Earnings Reports Administration
On Tuesday June 16, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security will hold a hearing on the “Financial Risk of Returning to Work.” The hearing will review the Social Security Administration’s management of earnings reports from Social Security disability beneficiaries who are attempting to work. Visit the Subcommittee’s web site to view the hearing announcement, as well as video and testimony the day of the hearing.
House Holds Hearing on Safety Net
Last week, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, held a hearing on “Protecting the Safety Net from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse”. Witnesses testified in two panels, focusing on proposals related to Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Unemployment Insurance. The first panel consisted of Representative Sam Johnson (R-TX), Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX), Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA), Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Representative Tom Reed (R-NY), Representative Jim Renacci (R-OH), and Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-CT). The second panel consisted of Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr., Inspector General, Social Security Administration; Dan Bertoni, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, Government Accountability Office; Curt Eysink, Executive Director, Louisiana Workforce Commission; Debra Rohlman, Vice President of Government Sales, Equifax Workforce Solutions; and Rebecca Vallas, Director of Policy for Poverty to Prosperity Program, Center for American Progress. Visit the Committee website to review testimony and for more information.
House to Hold Hearing on SSI / SSDI, Unemployment Insurance
This week, the House Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Human Resources, will hold a hearing on “Protecting the Safety Net from Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.” The hearing will review multiple bills related to Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Unemployment Insurance (UI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The Arc strongly opposes many of the bills that will be discussed at the hearing, including H.R. 918, a bill to cut SSDI for applicants and beneficiaries who also receive UI. The Ways and Means Committee web site is currently undergoing a redesign; our next edition of Capitol Insider will share links to hearing testimony and archived video, if available.
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act News
Last week, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Department of Education announced plans to hold two public meetings to seek comments about the proposed regulatory changes contained in a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on April 16, 2015. The hearings will provide an opportunity for the public to provide comment related to the NPRM which amends the Code of Federal Regulations Parts 361 (State Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program), 363 (State Supported Employment Services Program), and 397 (Limitations on Use of Subminimum Wage. The first meeting will be held on April 30, 2015 from 1 p.m.-5 p.m. in Washington, D.C. at the Department of Education. The second will be held May 20, 2015 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. at the Department of Rehabilitation in Sacramento, CA. Speakers will likely have five minutes to provide comment in person, however written comments can be submitted using www.regulations.gov through June 15, 2015.
Additionally, the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), Department of Labor announced the next meeting of the Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities. It will take place via webinar on Monday, May 11, 2015 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. and Tuesday, May 12, 2015 from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. (EDT). If you wish to participate in the webinar, you must register here by May 4th. If you desire to address the committee during the public comment period on May 11 from 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. (EDT), you must send your name, the organization you represent (if applicable) and additional materials to IntegratedCompetitiveEmployment@dol.gov or call David Berthiaume at (202)693-7887 by May 4th.
Senate Holds Hearing on Social Security Disability Insurance Financing
Last week, the Senate Committee on the Budget held a hearing on “The Coming Crisis: Social Security Disability Trust Fund Insolvency”. Witnesses were: Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Social Security Administration; Dr. Mark Duggan, Wayne and Jodi Cooperman Professor of Economics, Stanford University; Dr. Philip de Jong, Professor of Economics, University of Amsterdam – Amsterdam School of Economics; and Kate Lang, Staff Attorney, National Senior Citizens Law Center (testifying as a co-chair of the Income Security Committee of the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations or LCAO). The Arc joined with other members of the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities to submit a statement for the record of the hearing. Visit the Committee website to review testimony and video of the hearing.